By Rachel Kakraba
Executive Director of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Mrs. Levinia Addae-Mensah, has urged political leaders in the West African sub-region to be open to discussions that prioritize the well-being of their citizens, who ultimately bear the impact of the decisions they take.
Mrs. Addae-Mensah was speaking at a High-Level Policy Dialogue held in Accra. She reaffirmed WANEP’s commitment to promoting people-centered solutions, noting that this is why the organization has, over the years, partnered with relevant institutions to engage with the evolving conflict dynamics in the West African sub-region.
“Through our early warning systems, conflict analysis and scenario building, policy research, and our support to mediation and dialogue efforts at multiple levels, we are committed to fostering people-centered solutions. CORN West Africa continues to play a key role in convening researchers and analysts across the region to critically engage with evolving conflict dynamics, while the APN sustains efforts to build a new generation of African scholars and practitioners with the tools to innovate in peacebuilding practice.”
Mrs. Addae-Mensah said the dialogue would explore pathways that could restore confidence, trust, and regional solidarity. She said WANEP would continue to be rooted in the principles of inclusivity and local ownership, which will engender sustainable peace.
“As a civil society network rooted in the principles of inclusivity and local ownership, WANEP believes that sustainable peace and security will only be possible when we bridge the gap between policy and practice — between institutions and the communities they serve.”
About the High-Level Policy Dialogue
The High-Level Dialogue meeting preceded the ECOWAS Commission’s scheduled Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa, which is expected to address the emerging dynamics and challenges related to regional and political governance, development, peace, and security in the sub-region. It was organized by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and its partners, the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Conflict Research Network (CORN) West Africa.
Among other things, it provided recommendations to inform discussions during the proposed Special Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa on reversing the trend towards UCGs and to renew and strengthen ECOWAS efforts towards democratic consolidation, conflict transformation, and development.
It was an opportunity for participants to gain a better understanding of the drivers of UCG in the Sahel, and the progress and limitations of ECOWAS engagement with the military leaders in Guinea, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. They also explored ECOWAS’s options in the eventuality that the AES countries exit the organization and came up with contingency and long-term strategies for ensuring regional stability and development.
ECOWAS at 50
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, said this year marks the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, which presents an opportunity for reflection.
“In all human endeavour, ECOWAS’s trajectory has not always been linear and upward, but has been uneven, with lows and highs, as this presentation has sought to portray. This calls for sober introspection, rectification, and repositioning towards the future.”
He added, “The celebratory aspect will involve showcasing ECOWAS’s achievements, the Community’s cultural unity and diversity, outreach engagements, publicity, honouring deserving sons and daughters, and renewing our commitment to the regional integration project.”
Ambassador Dr. Musah stated that ECOWAS is grappling with numerous challenges that must be addressed with the support and involvement of all citizens.
“ECOWAS is at a crossroads. The hurdles ahead are daunting, but with the commitment of every West African — particularly citizen agency — to re-imagine ECOWAS by the People, of the People, and for the People, with a strong sense of solidarity and self-reliance, ECOWAS shall traverse this trying period and emerge as a stronger and more resilient regional organization.”
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established in May 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos to promote economic integration.
